Vijay Mallya warned by Bombay HC for posting court documents on social media | Today’s news
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday warned businessman Vijay Mallya against posting court documents on social media while his case is pending, saying such behavior “undermines the effectiveness of the court”.
Justice Milind Jadhav issued the warning after Enforcement Directorate (ED) lawyer Ashish Mehta told the court that Mallya uploaded the agency’s affidavit on his social media accounts even before it was formally submitted to the court.
According to the ED, the affidavit was filed on September 8 and delivered to Mallya’s legal team on the same day. The matter was to be heard on September 9, Mehta told the court.
However, Mallya reportedly shared the affidavit on social media on the evening of September 8.
Bombay HC asks Mallya’s lawyer to warn him
Justice Jadhav asked senior advocate Amit Desai, appearing for Mallya, to warn his client against repeating this behaviour.
“This is not good behaviour. This is serious. Warn him (Mallya) not to do this in future. Whatever he wants to submit, he can do so in court,” the court said.
The judge further told Desai, “Please understand your client, this is not how it works….it undermines the effectiveness of the court.”
Why is Vijay Mallya before Bombay HC?
Mallya approached the Bombay High Court in 2020 seeking closure of the criminal cases against him. His plea was based on his claim that the dispute with the banks had been settled after the lenders recovered their fees.
However, the ED opposed the plea, arguing that the return of assets alone does not absolve Mallya of the alleged money laundering charges.
The agency told the Supreme Court that Mallya had continued to evade trial in India and that the recovery of assets could not automatically lead to a stay of criminal proceedings.
₹14,131 crore assets handed over to creditors
According to the ED’s affidavit, movable and immovable property worth ₹14,131.6 crore, valued as of August 2021, has been handed over to a consortium of lender banks led by SBI.
The agency argued that the enforcement did not quash or lead to the withdrawal of money laundering charges against Mallya.
Mallya left India in March 2016 and was declared a proclaimed offender in November of that year.
Read also | ED indicts EaseMyTrip co-founder Nishant Pitti in Mahadev betting case
What is the case of Kingfisher Airlines?
Mallya is accused of money laundering and allegedly at a minimum of siphoning ₹3,500 crore from loans totaling approx ₹9,000 crore given to his now defunct Kingfisher Airlines.
The ED attached Mallya’s assets in 2016. In 2019, a special court allowed SBI and other creditor banks to use the attached movable assets to recover debts. These assets included shares in United Breweries Holdings Ltd (UBHL).
Mallya subsequently challenged the case in the Bombay High Court in 2020.
The meeting was adjourned until October 13
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday adjourned the matter till October 13 and directed the State Bank of India to file its affidavit in reply.
The next hearing is expected to consider the creditor’s response as Mallya’s application to end the criminal proceedings remains before the court.
Read also | Bombay HC asks Vijay Mallya, SBI to ‘move on’ from 2020 asset seizure suit
